A Quiet Day Turns Mysterious

On July 7, 1994, 34-year-old Dennis Paul Samstag disappeared near the Colorado River in Needles, California. Dennis, who was disabled, had gone to the river with a friend. Both had been drinking, and while his friend passed out on a boat ramp near Wetmore Beach, Dennis vanished without a trace. 

The Man Behind the Name

Dennis was a white male, standing 5'8" tall and weighing 150 pounds. He had medium-length black hair, brown eyes, and a mustache. Notably, he had a surgical scar on his abdomen and a large mole on the outside edge of his foot. He also had an eye disorder causing his eyes to shift back and forth and sometimes wore glasses. At the time of his disappearance, he was wearing blue, white, and yellow swim trunks and a yellow metal bracelet. 

The Immediate Aftermath

After Dennis's friend awoke and found him missing, a search was conducted along the river and its banks. Despite efforts by the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, no evidence was found to indicate what happened to Dennis. The search yielded no clues, and Dennis has not been seen since. 

Investigative Efforts

Authorities collected Dennis's fingerprints, which are available at CAL-ID under #LR #09-1098. DNA samples have been submitted to the California Department of Justice and uploaded into CODIS. Dental records are also available to assist in identification. ...Read More